Acquitted Blogger Sues Connecticut Officials for $50M

A “shock blogger” who urged readers to "take up arms" against Connecticut officials is suing state government leaders for $50 million after being acquitted of threatening and inciting violence charges.

Harold "Hal" Turner of North Bergen, New Jersey, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Newark on Nov. 21, claiming he was falsely arrested, wrongfully imprisoned and maliciously prosecuted. A jury acquitted him last year.

Turner was arrested after a June 2009 blog posting suggesting Connecticut officials "obey the Constitution or die" and urging readers to "take up arms." The posting was in response to legislation to give lay people of Roman Catholic churches more control over parish finances. The bill was withdrawn.

The lawsuit names prosecutors and other Connecticut officials. The state attorney general's office declined to comment.